CAIR Report: Number of Incidents Targeting U.S. Mosques in 2015 Highest Ever Recorded

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today released a preliminary report on incidents targeting American mosques and religious institutions in 2015 that shows a greater frequency of damage, destruction, vandalism, and intimidation than in any other year since CAIR started tracking such cases in 2009.

Of the total of 71 incidents to date in 2015, 29 occurred since the November 13 terror attacks in Paris. Of those 29 incidents, 15 occurred prior to the December 3 San Bernardino killings and 14 took place after that attack.

CAIR's preliminary data is being issued in advance of a soon-to-be-released comprehensive report on Islamophobia in the United States. 

CAIR Report: Number of Incidents Targeting U.S. Mosque in 2015 Highest Ever Recorded
http://tinyurl.com/ovpc6jg

The Washington-based civil rights organization has attributed the recent unprecedented spike in anti-Muslim hate crimes nationwide in recent weeks at least in part to anti-Muslim rhetoric by GOP presidential candidates like Donald Trump, who called for a complete ban on Muslims entering America, and Ben Carson, who claimed a Muslim should never be allowed to be president.

SEE: CAIR Calls for Condemnation of Spike in Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes During Tonight's GOP Debate
http://tinyurl.com/q48v7oy

Earlier this week, CAIR launched a Change.org petition calling on the Republican National Committee (RNC) to denounce Islamophobia and anti-Muslim rhetoric within the Republican Party.

PETITION: The Republican Party Must Denounce the Dangerous Islamophobia of Candidates and Officials
http://tinyurl.com/qhe2nlu

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR Communications Coordinator Nabeelah Naeem, 202-341-4171, [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

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